Democrat Registration Edge

Barack Obama's campaign is "poised to benefit" in the presidential election from significant voter registration gains by Democrats in several key states, Alec MacGillis and Alice Crites write this morning.

The question, raised both by Republicans quoted in the article and by many Readers Who Comment, is whether those new registrants will actually find their way to the polls on election day.

Additionally, some of our Republican-inclined readers allege that the registration drive is targeting illegals and other ne'er do wells. Democratic-inclined readers allege that Republicans will find ways to make it difficult for new registrants to cast their ballots or have them counted correctly. Less than a month to go folks!

We'll start with gkiltz, who said, "A lead for Democrats in registrations, or new registrations is not news! It's inevitable! The Republican's big trick is VOTER TURNOUT! They translate registrations to actual votes at a rate 4 or 5 times what the Democrats do!... If the Democrats are going to have a chance, they will have to win the voter turnout battle..."

But BasicInstinct wrote, "All the people on this board, touting the Republican "turnout" ability, fail to realize that there is a sense of urgency in the air (way more than previous years). Democrats, and Independents, will not allow the Republicans to ruin this country any further..."

losthorizon10 said, "People are excited about Obama- he's smart, competent, and has the policies to help America rebuild after the damage of the past eight years. People are NOT too excited about a man who voted with Bush 95% of the time in 2007..."

ElrodinTN wrote, "Good to see these numbers across the board. I think Obama's GOTV operation is going to add a few points on Election Day - perhaps enough to outweigh Bradley effect voters who flinch at the last minute before voting for a black man."

magellan1 said, "Yeah, they could be said to be "newcomers" or they could be said to be what they really are - people whose names have appeared in obituaries over the past few years. Chicago style politics - you gotta love it."

TyroneJonessr wrote, "...Aided by the left wing-nuts, they are stealing the election right in plain sight of the entire country..."

TortFeaser replied, "Tyrone: How is getting more people registered to vote stealing the election. The GOP has done the same in the past. The 'stealing' seems to come from the GOP these days, by trying voter intimidation tactics.."

And Cowabunga1 said, "Yeah, none of the same b.s. that went on in Ohio in 2004 with huge lines in minority areas for lack of enough voting sites. Now republicans crying about same day registration voting in Ohio which is nothing unusual or new. Why do republicans hate democracy?"

But borntoraisehogs wrote that "The registration of the uninformed obviously benefits the Democrat party."

TheodoreRoosevelt complained that "...Obama is passing out the Ripple and Mad Dog 20/20 down on the homeless side of town and getting those brilliant winners to register Democrat..."

But guytaur1 wrote, "TheodoreRoosevelt They are homeless people you idiot. An indictment on American Society. The well off have failed these people. Typical Republican Thugs kick people while they are down"

fortheclueless insisted that "Registering to vote is the very essence of democracy. Voting is the other natural half of the process... To suggest that somehow this amounts to election theft is about as un-American a notion as you can possibly make."

AverageJane said that "...if by some chance Obama wins by a slim margin like Gore did in 2000, McCain and the rabid Right will take it to court and fight tooth and nail to get most of the votes thrown out..."

info4 wrote that "Republicans should be scared. I know people that registered in Florida as a Republican to vote in the primary for Ron Paul and now intend to vote for Obama..."

bluntnhonest replied, "...Not to shine a light or anything, but the folks your are talking about as far as Paul is concerned are a bunch of college kids... Paul appeals to the foolish, not the wise. To pretend that it is some "monumental" thing that his voters go to Obama is silly."

But borntoraisehogs wrote that "The registration of the uninformed obviously benefits the Democrat party."

billdollar said, "Given how the GOP thugs can alter the electronic vote count in states like Ohio, Florida, Nevada and New Mexico the Democratic party needs to register voters in overwhelming numbers to counter their illegal activities."

We'll close with EricaJC, who wrote, "I teach Civics at a public high school school in Philadelphia. Based on my view from here, the turnout this year for young people and previously disaffected voters is going to be stunning."

Anybody who doesn't think the American medical system works properly needs to read the comments (two, both the same) by "Curly."

Our system is so successful that "Curly" is able to safely write and post immaculate drivel. Anywhere else (and even in the US a generation ago) "Curly" would be kept locked in a safe, and cushioned, room, where he could do no harm.

if obama wins, I will be one of the ones laughing when obama makes you pay your share because he did say you will have to sacrafice, he will tax your wealth, which means including the value of your home and all benefits received as income...

If all any of you want to do is tear down all the political parties, by blaming them for this catastrophe of an economy, then go ahead. Much like EVERY issue, it is a complex issue that has fault with everyone. And I mean EVERYONE. Republicans, Democrats, Bankers, Citizens...everyone. The idea that people are not responsible for their own actions, and that when something goes wrong they need to be saved, is effectively dismantling the United States politically and economically.

"If I'm a Democrat strategist I would direct all my workers to hang out at parole offices, prisons, jails, crack houses, union halls, court houses, drunk tanks, police stations, XXX theatres, and massage palors. I think most people would agree that you're going to find a slew of liberals at each.

Posted by: Obama - the Socialists' puppet | October 6, 2008 2:50 PM"

The main Republican campaign of fear...vote for us, OR DIE!

Keep it up, Republican bloggers...thanks for helping solidfy Obama support with your bigotry. Thanks to you, he's now up in almost every battleground state...you are Obama's best friends! We couldn't have done it without you!

We need to get rid of the worthless do nothing but for themselves Congress. They are costing us, the taxpayers, a fortune for foreign and domestic traveling "on the nation's business", sometimes taking family members along; on entertainment, restaurant bills (food and liquor), etc. They are living the good life and we get nothing for our money. If they were merchandise, they'd be returned to the stores for a refund. We need a LBJ or a Sam Raburn in there to monitor things, cut out all wasteful spending, make and pass good bills, etc. IT IS THE CONGRESS STUPID. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE LAWS.

And dont forget the GOP derived voting practices of 2000 and 2004, which no one in the MSM ever brings up.
Their silent MOTTO was " VOTE EARLY
I know full well how Bush won OHIO in 08, in a county that NEVER votes REPUBLICAN, he edged out Kerry by a few thousand votes.
I, for one, caught on to the scam after 2000, and voted several times myself in 2004.

The one sure thing in this election is Frustration!!
Every American, rich or poor, middle class singles or hard working family's have been feeling the pinch year on year since 2000.The cost of EVERYTHING has gone up three fold in this GOP driven economy, yet they have BOLSTERED the Corporate Greed Giants while the average American salary has actually DECLINED.
8 years ago a 4 year degree out of any college would have landed you somewhere between 70 to 90 thousand a year,more for high tech. and pharmacuticals.Now, in the Great year of 2008, they might be luck to find a 60K to 70K salary, with tons of limitations for advancement.
And under-educated adults content to labor or sweat a little for their dollar, averaged 14 per hour in 2000, are now lucky to find a job that pays more than 10.
So let's see.GOP economy fundamentals= Let the Rich get Richer,and it will help everyone out.Well, besides a few useless tax rebates that most people spent before they even got it, the AVERAGE,HARD WORKING AMERICAN has to work twice as hard, twice as long as they did 8 years ago to take LESS INCOME HOME at the end of the day.

I'm confused. The economy goes bad and that INCREASES Obama's chances to win??? Why - during such critical changes - would we vote for an inexperienced, JUNIOR senator who has voted "present" most of his career and gives new meaning to "flip-flop"? Give me the older, stable, decisive, wiser guy anyday (and I'm a lifelong gay Democrat!)

This election has had registration and youth votes in favor of the Democratic ticket since the start of this cycle. No one's reported much on it, but now that it's the home stretch it's suddenly a surprise that the new generation will more than cancel out McCain's advantage with 65+ voters. Everyone expected the youth to traditionally not vote. No one took into account that the new generation deals with questions of new ideas vs experience in their everyday lives. No one took into account that the new generation has easy access to all sources of news. No one took into account that watching the Daily Show might actually spark a civic duty with the youth.
As a 25-year old, it's no surprise here.

PBS is doing one of those instant online polls to ask 'America' if they think Sarah Palin is fit to be Vice President.

The Republican party (GOP) has launched an all-out blitz to get their staunch supporters to go on the site and click 'YES.'

As a result (right now), it "looks like" 62% of 'America' thinks Palin is qualified. The Republicans are going to be milking this for all its worth in their press efforts...what else do they have to go on...the "war hero" and "maverick" thing has already been milked for what it's worth, i.e. nothing!

If you believe that Palin is simply not qualified, please visit the site and click 'NO.' Or if you simply believe John McCain is a fool for selecting her in the first place...you can also cast a NO.

You don't have to enter your email address or any other information, you don't even have to live in the good old USofA...

With the antics of ACORN 'volinters' I wander how many of these that live in the north east and winter down south vote both places? There is almost no way to check on these since there is no good way to porve if the two names are the same person. If this is happening it is treasonist and those who regester the voter to vote and the voter who votes in both places should be convicted of a felony.

With the antics of ACORN 'volinters' I wander how many of these that live in the north east and winter down south vote both places? There is almost no way to check on these since there is no good way to porve if the two names are the same person. If this is happening it is treasonist and those who regester the voter to vote and the voter who votes in both places should be convicted of a felony.

After 8 years and three elections in watching how the United States conducts it's elections. I believe the Republicans thirst for power makes them fundamentally undemocratic. Using legal, illegal and financial means to subvert elections and deny people their right to vote make us no better than the numerous other banana republics throughout the world.

I helped register voters this past weekend in Northern Indiana, an area hard hit by job losses and home foreclosures. What I did not find, however, was despair, but hope, and unwavering support for Barack Obama, because they believe he will be able to reverse the downward spiral this country is caught up in. To a person they told me they would be at the polls on Election Day to help him do it.

I haven't voted in FL for the last 10 years, but the Bush policies have made me regret it. McCain seems like the same old thing to me. The old guys have had their shot at it and keep making the same mistakes. Obama is the face of a new generation that may make better choices than we have. Good luck to them. They have my vote and my blessing.

This really isn't a surprise to anyone following this election. Watching the Bush Administration tank our country, following by the "maverick" ( irrational ) actions of McCain and Palin over the last few weeks...

If I'm a Democrat strategist I would direct all my workers to hang out at parole offices, prisons, jails, crack houses, union halls, court houses, drunk tanks, police stations, XXX theatres, and massage palors. I think most people would agree that you're going to find a slew of liberals at each.

The way I see it in Virgina, Ohio, Florida and a whole host of other states, the GOP consistently tries to steal democracy from the poor and minorities through legal and financial means. The democrats are there to restore the votes of the poor and minorities through increased registration and voter turnout.

Don't vote for people. Everyone should register, however, you are throwing your rights away by voting in elections. Demand to vote on ISSUES. Current people in power will NOT allow citizens to vote on issues since they are making huge profits off the statuesque. People MUST demand change by NOT voting in elections, thereby forcing the government to let citizens vote on issues that the current government WILL NEVER allow. Such as a financially independent government (NO TAXES).